September 11, 2008
By Harry S. Pozycki


It has been seven years since Sept. 11, 2001, a day that echoes even more strongly here in New Jersey, where many of us know someone who died or a family who lost a loved one in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

Right after Sept. 11, we briefly came together as a nation unified in our shared grief and our willingness to do whatever it took to combat terrorism. However, this moment quickly passed; we were not asked to do anything to contribute to the security of the nation or to the greater good.

In fact, we were told to go shopping.

Our politics returned to its divisions and distractions, and most of us returned to lives dominated by our personal responsibilities.

Today, a combination of challenges, including an economic downturn that is squeezing most families and many businesses, an energy crisis that is dramatically hitting home, an acceleration of climate change and the continued danger of terrorism, has sparked renewed interest in government and politics. This interest is evidenced by stepped-up participation in and attention to the presidential race.

That's why now is the time to seize the opportunity created by this interest ΓÇö to offer potential citizen leaders training in the mechanics of political and governmental power.

Presidential leadership is an important component of getting more citizens to use their talents and skills to contribute to the public good. In 1960, President John F. Kennedy summoned a new generation to service through the Peace Corps and Vista. This year, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have made asking more of our citizens a key part of their platforms.

Still, most of the hard work of turning lofty rhetoric into concrete ways that people can use their talents must happen at the local level. After all, only a few of us can free up the time to join the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Teach for America, but nearly all of us can contribute a few hours a week to taking on the challenges that face our hometowns and beyond.

That is why the Citizens' Campaign is launching a comprehensive New Jersey Call to Service.

New Jersey has among the best educated and most talented citizens in the nation. The plan is to draw on this deep pool of potential by providing people who have only a few hours a week an opportunity to use their talents and ideas to improve their communities.

We have identified four major paths to service that will let people use their leadership skills to shape the future of our towns and our state.

These paths are:

1. Serving on a state or local board or commission.

2. Serving as an elected neighborhood-level party official.

3. Becoming a citizen legislator by devising a constructive proposal and presenting it to the appropriate government body.

4. Serving in the increasingly important area of emergency response or public safety as part of a first-aid squad or as a member of an auxiliary police force, for example.

The nonpartisan Citizens' Campaign will provide online training and live workshops. We also will offer a Web-based "do-it-yourself" program for New Jersey residents who wish to launch a Call to Service in their own hometowns.

Finally, those who want to learn how to become effective citizen leaders will be provided with expert political, legal and governmental advice.

Experience tells us that when citizens have opportunities to lead, they respond. With the training programs and expert support now in place, it is time for a New Jersey Call to Service.

Mr. Pozycki is the chair of the Citizens' Campaign. This op ed was published in many New Jersey newspapers on Sept 11, 2008.